IdeaEncore: Organizational forms proliferate

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Nonprofit, For Profit, Hybrid . . . Oh My

Learn about new hybrid nonprofits and B Corporations A new type of company that emphasizes social enterprise over profit-making is gaining popularity across the United States. The exciting aspect of these flexible-purpose or hybrid corporations that put social benefit ahead of financial performance is their ability to access capital markets while also receiving traditional philanthropic support. And the model is gaining traction. Social enterprise and hybrid organizations are almost everywhere: from Seventh Generation in your grocery store to the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. Give to Get Jobs has compiled a helpful database of social enterprise organizations - you can check it out at Social Enterprise Database. You can also find a list of the low-profit limited liability companies (L3Cs) by state at interSector Partner's List of L3C Organizations. Some states in the United States also recognize Benefit corporations, or B corporations, a certification for corporations and LLCs with public benefit missions.   IdeaEncore Network has been a proud B Corp for roughly two years and was part of the team that adocated in Sacramento for the recently passed California legislation.  The B Corporation website has information on certification and a directory of certified B Corps. There are almost as many ways to structure a social enterprise as there are social enterprise organizations. Vox Legal's webinar, Structuring Nonprofit Businesses: Hybrids, Subsidiaries and Other Options is a must-watch if you or your organization is considering a social enterprise initiative. Allen Bromberger's article Social Enterprise: A Lawyer's Perspective is a good place to start to understand the basic legal issues involved in hybrid organizations. Social Enterprise Associate's Case Study: Local Food and Sustainable Agriculture in the United States discusses the approaches several local and organic food movements have taken to address widespread social issues.   The Social Enterprise Alliance provides a national structure for furthering social enterprises. Help your colleagues through out the social sector by sharing documents, templates and guides on social enterprise initiatives on IdeaEncore.

Encores of the Week

Building a Nonprofit Career Path Shared by The Bridgespan Group (Free) MNA Principles and Practices Self-Assessment & Implementation Guide Shared by Montana Nonprofit Association ($10) Can Your Organization Obtain More Income? The 7 Sources Shared by Karen Eber Davis Consulting (Free) R.A.S.I.C. Roles, Accountability and Responsibility Shared by Concinnity Network ($9) Opportunity Knocks Nonprofit Retention and Vacancy Report 2010 Created by Opportunity Knocks and Shared by Capaciteria (Free)